What is a CSAT? How Certified Sex Addiction Therapists Help in Recovery

What is a CSAT?

If you’ve been researching help for sex addiction, porn addiction, or betrayal trauma, you’ve probably come across the term CSAT. It stands for Certified Sex Addiction Therapist — a specialized credential for therapists trained in assessing and treating compulsive sexual behavior, intimacy disorders, and the impact of betrayal.

Developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of sexual addiction treatment, the CSAT program equips mental health professionals with advanced skills, structured treatment models, and trauma-informed approaches (Carnes, 1991; Carnes et al., 2019).

What Does a CSAT Do?

A CSAT helps individuals and couples address:

• Sex addiction and pornography addiction

• Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (Kraus et al., 2018)

• Love and relationship addiction

• Intimacy anorexia (Weiss, 2015)

• Betrayal trauma for partners (Mays, 2023)

• Underlying trauma, attachment wounds, and co-occurring disorders

CSATs use evidence-based interventions such as:

• The 30-Task Model for sex addiction recovery (Carnes, 1991)

• Disclosure and restitution protocols for rebuilding trust

• Trauma-informed therapies like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing

• Integration with 12-step support groups (e.g., SAA, SLAA)

How Does Someone Become a CSAT?

The CSAT credential is awarded through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). To earn it, a therapist must:

1. Hold a mental health license or equivalent graduate degree in counseling, psychology, or social work

2. Complete multiple intensive training modules in sexual addiction, trauma, and partner recovery

3. Receive clinical supervision from a CSAT Supervisor while working with clients

4. Demonstrate competency in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of sex addiction and related issues

Training covers specialized assessments such as the Sexual Addiction Screening Test–Revised (SAST-R) (Carnes et al., 2010) and the Sexual Dependency Inventory.

Why See a CSAT Instead of a General Therapist?

While many therapists can address relationship or sexual concerns, CSATs bring specialized expertise that can be crucial for recovery. According to Kraus et al. (2018), compulsive sexual behavior often coexists with trauma, mental health disorders, and relational breakdown. Without targeted treatment, relapse rates and relationship distress remain high.

CSATs are trained to:

• Identify hidden or minimized sexual behaviors

• Address shame and secrecy in a nonjudgmental way

• Create a structured recovery plan with measurable milestones

• Support partners through their own healing process

Finding a CSAT

The easiest way to locate a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist is through the IITAP directory, which allows you to search by location, specialty, or treatment focus. You can also ask potential therapists about their CSAT training, experience, and approach to both individual and partner work.

The Bottom Line

A CSAT is more than a therapist — they are a specialized guide for those struggling with compulsive sexual behavior, pornography addiction, or the pain of betrayal trauma. Their advanced training, structured methods, and trauma-informed lens make them uniquely qualified to help individuals and couples heal, rebuild trust, and create healthier intimacy.

If you think you or your partner might benefit from working with a CSAT, seeking a consultation is a strong first step toward recovery.

References

• Carnes, P. (1991). Don’t Call It Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction. Bantam.

• Carnes, P., Green, B., & Carnes, S. (2010). The same yet different: Refocusing the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) to reflect orientation and gender. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 17(1), 7–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720161003604087

• Carnes, P., Laaser, M., & Laaser, D. (2019). Recovery Zone, Volume 1: Making Changes That Last. Gentle Path Press.

• Kraus, S. W., Krueger, R. B., Briken, P., First, M. B., Stein, D. J., Kaplan, M. S., Voon, V., Abdo, C. H. N., Grant, J. E., Atalla, E., & Reed, G. M. (2018). Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder in the ICD-11. World Psychiatry, 17(1), 109–110. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20499

• Mays, M. (2023). The Betrayal Bind: How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Has Hurt You the Worst. Central Recovery Press.

• Weiss, D. (2015). Intimacy Anorexia: Healing the Hidden Addiction in Your Marriage.